How Board Games Should Be Reviewed

Explore my board game reviews with a focus on theme, mechanics, replayability, production quality, and gameplay—offering more depth than simple ratings.

When I first started this blog, my aim was to focus on sharing strategy tips and highlighting various playthroughs. While that’s still my primary focus, I’ve recently felt the need to also provide reviews for each game in my collection, as well as other games I’ve played with groups.

Rating and reviewing board games can be challenging for both reviewers and readers. There are several respected board game critics and reviewers that I follow, relying on their insights to help me decide whether to invest in a game or not.

Most reviews offer a solid overview of the game, discussing what the reviewer likes or dislikes, the theme, and the mechanics, while highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the review they sometimes conclude a numerical rating like 7.5, 8 etc, which can seem abrupt.

Even BGG ratings can be misleading, as some reviews may simply assign a number with a brief comment. Additionally, some community members can be quite critical and rate games low ratings. I respect the people not liking a game but I believe no game truly deserves a low rating.

I often wonder how these ratings are determined and what criteria or structure they base themselves on. This is why reviewing games has never been my strong suit; it's challenging to assign a number that resonates with everyone. I prefer not to assign a rating without providing context.

I’ve also wrote a blog about the shortcomings of BGG ratings and why we shouldn’t rely on them too heavily.

I’ve chose five criteria to base myself when reviewing a game.

1. Theme

2. Mechanics

3. Replayability

4. Production Quality

5. Gameplay

For each criteria, I’ll assign a score from 0 to 10, then average these scores to determine the final rating. While this approach remains somewhat subjective, I believe it provides a more precise overall rating.

People have different priorities when it comes to board games. Some may value the theme and storytelling, while others focus more on the mechanics and how actions or events play out.

Personally, I prefer reviews that are organized into sections, as it makes it easier to assess a game’s strengths and weaknesses. For me, the most important aspects of a board game are its theme, mechanics, and gameplay.

Theme

Refers to the narrative or setting that provides context and flavor to the game’s mechanics. It helps players in the game world by giving meaning to their actions, decisions, and the game components. Essentially, theme answers the question of "What is this game about?"

A well-executed theme can make players feel more connected to the game, as if they are part of the story. Themes create the atmosphere, giving players a reason to care about their objectives. In heavily thematic games, the narrative often drives gameplay.

In some games, the theme is tightly woven into the mechanics. Actions you take in the game feel like they logically align with the theme. For example:

• In Pandemic, players cooperate to cure diseases, and the game’s mechanics, like moving around a map to treat outbreaks.

• In Undaunted: North Africa, the theme of tactical warfare is tied to its deck-building mechanic, where cards represent soldiers, and each action feels like a military maneuver.

Here are a few key factors I'll consider:

• How well does the theme tie into the gameplay mechanics?

• Does the game make you feel immersed in its world or setting?

• Does the game’s end goal (winning conditions) make sense in the context of the theme?

Robinson Crusoe is one of my favorite games, largely due to its theme. The core focus is surviving on an island, where the events you create weave together to tell a compelling story.

Mechanics

The mechanical part of a board game refers to the underlying systems, rules, and interactions that govern how the game is played. While the theme gives the game its narrative context, mechanics define the structure and flow of gameplay. They answer the question "How do players play this game?"

Good mechanics keep players engaged by providing meaningful choices, challenges, and strategies. Strong mechanics can make a game replayable because they allow different strategies or outcomes to emerge with each playthrough.

Board games feature a variety of mechanics, and here are some of the most popular ones. I won't cover them all now, but as I review more games in the future, you'll get to explore them.

• Worker placement, a popular mechanic where players place "workers" (meeples or tokens) on specific areas of the board to take actions or gain resources. The tension often comes from limited action spaces.

• Deck-building, players start with a small deck of cards and gradually acquire more powerful cards throughout the game. The challenge is creating an efficient deck that supports a specific strategy.

Here are a few key factors I'll consider:

• How well do the mechanics support the theme?

• How important are the decisions you make during the game?

• How do the mechanics encourage or facilitate player interaction?

• What’s the downtime for each turn

One good example is Imperium Horizons/Legends/Classics as the mechanics is driven by deck building. Each player starts with a basic deck of cards representing their civilization. Throughout the game, players acquire new cards from a shared market to add to their deck, improving their civilization's capabilities.

Replayability

Keeping players engaged by challenging them to figure out various strategies to outsmart an opponent or AI. Games with high replayability offer new experiences, challenges, or strategic depth each time you play, keeping the game engaging and preventing it from feeling repetitive or predictable.

Here are a few key factors we'll consider:

• Asymmetry: each role a player plays with has different strategies or ways to win.

• Variable Setup: Different setups includes randomizing the board layout, card draws, or player starting positions, which ensures no two games are exactly the same.

• Multiple Strategies: Several viable paths to victory tend to be more replayable. Players can explore different strategies and adapt to the changing game environment, making each playthrough feel unique.

• Solo mode: Play the game when no one is around, also providing a challenge and a fresh experience.

Imperium Horizons offers tremendous replayability due to its high level of asymmetry. Each civilization presents a significant learning curve, with numerous paths to victory. If you own Horizons, Legends, and Classics, you'll have 30 different civilization decks to explore, adding even more variety to the experience.

Production Quality

The overall craftsmanship and physical components that come with the game. This includes the materials, artwork, and attention to detail in the game's design and presentation.

Components can enhance the board game as it can present the theme or mechanics which can contribute to the game's immersion. For example: Dune: War for Arrakis includes actual wormsand miniatures that feel authentic to the Dune universe, heightening the sense of immersion.

Also cards that are well-designed with clear, intuitive iconography that aligns with the theme is crucial for a smooth and immersive gameplay experience. When the symbols and visuals are easy to understand at a glance, it reduces confusion and keeps the game flowing.

Additionally, when the artwork and icons tie seamlessly into the game’s theme, it enhances the overall atmosphere, drawing players deeper into the world the game is trying to create.

Here are a few key factors I'll consider:

• Aesthetic and components.

• Do both the production quality and the gameplay complement each other?

• Artwork and design: Does the artwork complement the game’s theme and help create an immersive experience

Dune: War for Arrakis is a good example that includes faction-specific tokens, cards, and components that feel authentic to the Dune universe.

Gameplay

I think gameplay is the most important and the heart of board games. The overall experience of playing the game, driven by its actions, player interactions, and strategic depth. It encompasses how players make decisions, engage with the game’s rules, and react to the unfolding events during the game session.

Here are a few key factors we'll consider:

• Player Progression and Development

• Player Count

• Engagement and Immersion

• Player Interaction

• Strategic Depth

• Tactical Play

• Luck vs. Skill

Terraforming Mars delivers rich strategic gameplay with a focus on critical decision-making. Players must thoughtfully choose their corporation and efficiently manage resources to stay competitive in the race to terraform the planet.

Pros & Cons

At the end of the review, I’ll provide a brief summary of the pros and cons, highlighting the game's key aspects. For those who prefer not to read through each section in detail, this quick overview will offer a concise look at the game's strengths and weaknesses.

I appreciate this approach, as other reviewers use a similar structure that offers a quick snapshot of the game. Certain points may either spark your interest or make you lose interest entirely, depending on your preferences.

Verdict

I'm uncertain about how successful this approach will be, but I plan to start by reviewing some of the games I currently own and have played. These reviews will likely be quite detailed, though I'm unsure how many I can produce each year.

As you can see, I’m focusing on a thorough analysis of each board game. Each review will conclude with a verdict and an average rating. My goal is to offer readers a more precise evaluation, particularly helpful for new enthusiasts. While this method may not be perfect and could potentially be improved, I believe it's a step in the right direction for providing better reviews.

I hope this piques some interest. If you have any suggestions or think additional criteria should be included, please share your thoughts in the comments.